The day the author of THAT Daily Mail article called me a thief

I’ve been called many things in my time, but never a thief.

That’s what Anna May Mangan, the author of THAT Daily Mail article, called me when we came face to face for the first time. On live TV.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Daily Mail article to which I’m referring Anna recently took it upon herself to name and shame certain mummy bloggers for daring to document the trials and tribulations of motherhood in a withering attack on mums like me, and the story went viral.

Here’s a link to the featureif you missed it – I don’t mind linking to it because it only serves to raise the profile – and click throughs – of the bloggers in question. Anyway, I digress.

Now the mummy blogger basher reckons I’m a thief for escaping to coffee shops a couple of days a week in a bid to make working from home with kids work and having the audacity to plug in and connect to their (free) wifi.

And she told me so on live breakfast TV in front of more than one million viewers.

The day the author of THAT Daily Mail article called me a thief

I was asked to appear on ITV’s Good Morning Britain to debate the issue of so-called ‘café campers’ and explain why I’m proud to be one alongside Anna who says home workers like me are ‘thieves’ for ‘loitering without intent to spend enough money’ and ‘monopolising the best seats’ in coffee shops.

The point is I had a chance to ask Anna about THAT Daily Mail article…but I didn’t.

As a tabloid journalist myself I know that the article as it appeared isn’t necessarily what she filed: it will have been through several editors who may have ‘tweaked’ it, and she wouldn’t have been responsible for the headline, sensationalist bullet points or the pulled quotes either.

On more than one occasion I’ve looked at the end result of a story I’ve written and thought ‘did I write that?’ because while not technically wrong it’s been edited to within an inch of its life to the point I barely recognise it.

Even so, in the case of this article, I don’t think the writer’s original intention was lost – Anna made her feelings plainly clear. So why didn’t I confront her about it?

In my defence live TVis all a bit of a blur: you’re taken to the studio just before you’re due to go on air, you’re whisked into hair and make-upand in the case of debate-style features you’re generally kept away from whoever it is you’re going on air with so your best argument is saved for telly.

Then by the time you come off air your car is waiting to pick you up and that’s that. So what I’m basically saying is that I didn’t get the chance. But in hindsight I wished I had.

On the up side, despite being called a thief on national TV, Eamonn Holmes sided with me (I told you he was super nice!) and reckons with three kids at home I’m quite right to make coffee shops my pop up office.

Unfortunately the debate isn’t on the ITV hub, otherwise I would share it here, so all I’ve got is this (rather dodgy) recording by Misery Guts with the kids in the background, last night’s nappy hanging between Little B’s legs, demanding Thomas the Tank Engine instead. Which, despite what Anna says in her infamous article, is the reality of motherhood.

Did you read THAT Daily Mail article? Would you confront Anna about it if you had the chance? Do you think I’m a coffee shop thief? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

34 Comments

It’s so ridiculous to criticise people who work in coffee shops! Coffee shops designed THEMSELVES to be worked in. That’s why they provide wifi and outlets! That’s why that have nice comfy spaces with lovely lighting! Good for you sharing the real stuff of motherhood. She obviously doesn’t understand that we need people to show the hard parts so we don’t feel alone, and that a bit of jokey hyperbole about how bad it is, is just a bit of fun. #familyfunlinky

There’s a quiet culture of knocking the little guy. 99% of bloggers are the little guy; very few make it rich. But people are jealous of bloggers perceived riches, cushy lifestyle and over-sharing. It’s a stupid accusation at you. It’s just an excuse to bully you by someone who is jealous of you breaking early ground in a new industry.

I’m are the coffee shops like that they get regular custom from people working there… And let’s face it most of them don’t sell cheap coffees! if they wanted rid of you they could just turn off the wifi! Saying its thieving is rediculous *shakes head in disbelief* X

Well she was there to debate with you wasn’t she? I don’t agree with her but that was what the TV company wanted for their live segment. Coffee shops encourage people to come into their space and consume coffee and cake etc….they have free Wifi so why not use it? She was wrong to suggest otherwise but to call you a thief was a bit harsh!. #familyfun

I remember that article, it was a really vile attack on mums and total click bait. Mail for what they wanted. I think you’re right to question whether it was actually what the journalist filed (I’m a tabloid journo too and know all too well what it’s like!). I really fail to see the issue with using coffee shops as your pop up office and I think it’s actually sad anyone would use this as an argument against mums who work from home. You’re trying to make an honest living that works for you, and you’re called a thief. I’m actually glad I missed it on tv as I would have thrown something at the telly! Xx#triumphanttales

Wow, firstly, you were amazing! So level headed and came across so well in what must have been such a nerve wracking experience and exchange.
Secondly, I totally agree with your point. If you weren’t in the coffee shop spending money then you’d be at home not spending money. I’m pretty sure I know which option the coffee shop would prefer. They will have factored internet and electric charging point usage in to their business plan from the word go so they wouldn’t offer it is it isn’t profitable to them. Plus, the markup they make on a cup if coffee is ridiculous so it’s just a win for everyone.

Loads of people work in coffee shops, if the shops didn’t want you to they would ask you to leave or like others have said, restrict use of outlets and wifi. You look fab by the way, a natural on tv! #twinklytuesday

I don’t get it. It’s like putting a microscope on something that’s not worth putting a microscope on. I wouldn’t waste anymore energy on it, there are for more important and interesting thing, than if somebody does some work in a coffee shop. Breaking News: Some people only go in to use the loo #FamilyFunLinky

If coffee shops cared then they would put policies in olace such as minimum spend or max time at tables! They actually set themselves up for people to use them in hi way. Good on you for making your situation work for you. You are working and raising a family so he mummy bashing needs to stop! Great post #coolmumclub

How can you possibly steal something that is being given away for free. Coffee shops market themselves to attract people who want to work away from home. If THEY had a problem with it they would simply ask you to buy more or move on.
#coolmumsclub

You handled yourself so well in this debate. I actually didn’t realise she was the same person who wrote that article and I don’t know if I could have held back had I known! The coffee shop thing – there is a reason they have dedicated tables and wifi – so those of us who want to use them, do! xx #coolmumclub

You were fabulous – so elegant, calm and poised! Stealing is a completely different concept to her argument (unless you try to run out of the coffee shop with their free Wifi tucked under your arm), it makes no sense! I feel like everything I read now seems to be some sort of mum-attack; whether it be mummy bloggers or those who do/don’t Pinterest parent. 1) No-one can win 2) Who cares how other people do it!? #coolmumclub

Are you telling me that she has never had a work meeting in a coffee shop? Like hell she hasn’t and it is absolutely no different to you working in one. Whenever we had our work appraisals, my old boss would always take us for a coffee. Which is no different to me sitting in a laptop working in one! The Wi-Fi is there to be used and as long as you purchase a drink then surely that’s fine (I would always end up with lunch too no doubt!). Silly mare! Thanks for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday

They provide free wifi to be used by the patrons, I assume you bought coffee there and didn’t just log in from the bench outside?! You should head in an breastfeed, that would problem give her something else to shout about too.
Thanks so much for linking up at #kcacols. Hope you come back again next time.

To accuse anyone of being s thief for sitting in a coffee shop is utterly ridiculous. What about rhose business types sat on their laptop all morning falling asleep over their second coffee?? Everybody does it! The article really is overly bashing, if she doesn’t agree with it then that’s fine but to criticise somebody’s parenting to that degree is just horrible. Some points I agree with and some points I don’t but I, as well as most people, can see the humour in the pulled quotes and realise that a ‘slummy mummy’ is just a parent getting by the best they can like everyone else and we all have off days! #KCACOLS

I see so many people working in coffee shops and I’m JEALOUS! I wish I had the confidence and guts to do it myself and also it’d give me 2 mins to myself, whether i am there for an hour or so. I will probably be buying myself 2-3 cup of tea and a cake on the side, so aslong as someone pays for a cuppa or a snack, I see no problem in someone working! #KCACOLS

What a turd! She needs to get a grip. It’s not like you’re sat there taking up a table and not buying anything. Never mind confront her, I would have slapped her…but that could be my raging pregnancy hormones! #KCACOLS

Coffee shops expect this kind of thing. Also, the markup on tea and coffee is crazy, so one cup of coffee is definitely paying for what is a relatively cheap wi-fi service. Say wi-fi is thirty quid a month. That’s a pound a day. Your one cup of coffee is about three quid. You’ve paid for three days worth of wi-fi. That’s not stealing from the coffee shop. That’s the other way around. Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next time

It seems to me that if the shops didn’t want people in there hanging around they wouldn’t offer the free wi-fi. People will do and say anything for atttention. Congrats on getting on TV though, very cool! #KCACOLS

As long as you are a customer what’s the issue, a lot of people have a new in their bonnet about bloggers. Some seem to think we are just sent free stuff it’s not free at all, blogging is work (although enjoyable) and simply a rising form of marketing. Well done on the telly. x #kcacols

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I'm a wife, mother, freelance journalist & blogger. Not necessarily in that order. Join me as I navigate the previously unchartered territory of motherhood always safe in the knowledge there's a bottle of wine in the fridge...

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